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Thailand enters 5G technology era – the benefits and health concerns
In the last decade, Thailand’s cellular technology has grown to levels unforeseen in the country and is likely to change entirely the way we interact with each other and the environment around us. The impact that fifth-generation (5G) technology will have on the millions of people in the country is vast.
Imagine watching a live Youtube channel on a virtual reality headset in real-time with zero lag, all through a smartphone phone, while traveling on the road in a self-driving car going at 100 kph. With 5G technology, this can come true and provide a deluge of opportunities and wonders. However, with rewards come serious health concerns that are worth highlighting when confronting new technology.
In this article by Pacific Prime Thailand, we will divulge 5G technology in its simplest form and review its benefits and concerns in Thailand.
What is 5G technology?
Fifth-generation wireless (5G) is the latest iteration of cellular technology, engineered to greatly enhance the speed and responsiveness of wireless networks.
5G technology in Thailand
2019 has been a pivotal year for Thailand. Not only has the election, economy, and trade been in the headlines, so has the news to eventually adopt 5G technology and transform its network.
In April 2019, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) went into collaboration with the Ministry of Digital for Economy and Society, and that of Chulalongkorn University to organize an exhibition and seminar entitled, “5G for Thailand as ASEAN’s Number One”.
The event was attended by Huawei, a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, with plans to make Thailand its main market for 5G ecosystem development and use in Southeast Asia. So far in 2019, Huawei has invested heavily in setting up 5G testbeds, in the Sri Racha district of Chonburi. The area is of huge significance as the country prepares to deliver its plans for ‘Thailand’s 4.0 economic real-estate evolution’.
Benefits of 5G technology in Thailand
5G technology has huge potential in improving speed, capacity, and latency across the board in Thailand as shown below:
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Increased speed and bandwidth
With a data rate of up to 10Gbps, 5G will bring a 10 to 100 times improvement over the existing 4G LTE technology.
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Low latency
The technology offers latency of 1 ms or less which is incredibly important when processing information for users like gamers and self-driverless vehicles. Latency is defined as the time taken to upload data on one device and have it reach its target. Just to put this into context, it takes at least 10 ms for an image to be seen by the human eye to be processed by the brain.
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Density
5G technology allows for up to 100 times more connected devices in the same vicinity compared to present 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) while maintaining 99.999% connectivity.
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Reduction in power consumption
Huge power savings can be made with the use of 5G technology for devices ranging from smartphones to heavyweight infrastructure setups that make up the Internet of Things (IoT).
Health concerns caused by cellular technology
The radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted by all mobile phones has led people not just in Thailand but globally to worry about increased health risks, including developing certain types of cancers and heart conditions.
Cancer and metabolic abnormalities
In 2011, the WHO along with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) had classified all radiofrequency radiation (of which 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile signals are apart) as a potential 2B carcinogen.
Many studies have associated low-level RFR exposure with a number of health effects, including:
- Denaturation of DNA single and double-strand breaks – causing cancer
- Oxidative damage (which leads to tissue deterioration and premature aging)
- Disruption of cell metabolism at a cellular level
- Increased blood-brain barrier permeability
- Melatonin reduction (leading to insomnia and increasing cancer risks)
- Disruption of brain glucose metabolism
Higher frequencies for 5G technology
5G technology use bandwidth of the extremely high-frequency millimeter-wave (MMW), between 30GHz and 300GHz, equivalent to the same dose of airport scanners. Bandwidths in this range travel a short distance. Furthermore, they don’t travel well through buildings and tend to be absorbed by cement, rain, plants, and other objects in its path. This is why the necessary infrastructure would require smaller cell towers situated within 300 meters of each other, to relay the signal. The concern is that these cells will be ubiquitous and in close vicinity to the public. The heavy concentration of these cells increases the public’s exposure to radiofrequency radiation.
Other distressing research
A US National Toxicology Program study noted that male rats exposed to RFR for nine hours a day over two years developed rare forms of tumors in the brain and heart, and rats of both sexes developed DNA damage. In relation to human health, if the findings from the study were translated into humans, the widespread increase in cellphone use with 5G technology could have a significant impact on the health of people.
What’s the conclusion on 5G technology?
The truth of the matter is that even with studies that show that RFR is truly hazardous like the aforementioned rat study, there are also arguments that 5G technology poses no threat to human health. The study coordinated by the WHO and IARC itself comes with an important caveat: The same class of possible carcinogens includes pickles and aloe leaf extract.
With reference to the University of Helsinki biochemist Adjunct Professor Dariusz Leszczynski, who was one of the WHO researchers, believed that the announcement did not go far enough to cement the impact that RFR has on human health.
So far, studies across the globe continue to uncover the true answer as to the impact that 5G will have on human health. What governments, health organizations, and private institutions have proven seems to be the tip of the iceberg as more convincing and conclusive studies are needed to highlight fully how 5G technology will affect human health.
Secure health insurance today!
With 5G technology at Thailand’s footsteps, and studies yet to convince that 5G technology is a substantial threat to human health, it pays to be covered by private health insurance.
It is recommended to check with a reputable insurance broker, such as Pacific Prime Thailand, who have been in the business of supporting clients with health insurance inquiries for well over the last 19 years.
Our consultants provide impartial advice and can help you make comparisons between different plans. On top of our offerings, as a broker, we can negotiate on your behalf for the best plan, specifically tailored to you and your family’s needs.
Corporate businesses in Thailand that require group health insurance or employee benefits solutions can make comparisons on Pacific Prime’s corporate page.
For further information, you are welcome to check out the latest from our blog page or refer to our health insurance plan page.
Also, our prime guides and reports may benefit you in the long run and help keep you informed on the trends like the state of health insurance in Thailand.
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